Evaporative cooler and humidifier



March 17, 1953 R, A, ROBIC 2,631,831

EVAPORATIVE COOLER AND HUMIDIFIER Filed Sept. 22, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor am. my;

March 17, 1953 A. ROBIC 2,631,831

EVAPORATIVE COOLER AND HUMIDIFIER Filed Sept. 22; 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 17, 1953 R. A. ROBIC 2,631,831

EVAPORATIVE COOLER AND HUMIDIFIER Filed Sept. 22, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 5i 1 5 PE- Inventor I flay 220ml 40%? 44 56 Attor'negs Patented Mar. 17, 1953 Tar OFFICE EVAPORATIVE COOLER AND HUMIDIFIER Raymond A. Robic, Outremont, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to an evaporative cooler and humidifier and more particularly to an evaporative cooler and humidifier of the domestic type which is adapted for use in humidifying and/or cooling the air in homes, offices, apartments, small manufacturing plants and the like.

The humidifier, according to the present invention is of the type comprising a metal evaporative drum dipping in a water reservoir, means to impart to said drum a continuous rotational movement and means to effect an air circulation through the emerged wet portion of said evaporative drum in order to humidify and cool said circulated air.

The general object, according to the present invention is the provision of a cooler and humidifier of the character described, of improved construction and of high efficiency in service.

Another important object, according to the present invention, is the provision of a humidifier of the character described which is very silent in operation.

Still another important object, according to the present invention, is the provision in such a humidifier of novel means for manually filling the "water tank without having to displace the latter or any other part of the internal mechanism of the apparatus.

Still another important object, according to the present invention, is the provision of a humidifier of the character described in which the electric motors driving means are electrically insulated from the water tank and the evaporative drum in order to prevent an electrolytic e'fiect within the water tank.

Still another important object, according to the present invention, is the provision of a humidifier of the character described in which the transmission of auditive vibrations from one part to another is reduced to a minimum.

Yet another important object of the present invention is the provision of a humidifier of the character described in which novel and improved means are provided to rotate the evaporative drum.

Still another important object of the present invention is the provision of a humidifier of the character in which all the working parts are Within easy access and are rapidly dismountable for cleaning or repairs.

'Yet another important object of the present invention is the provision of a humidifierwhich maybe easily dismounted for shipment.

Still another important object, according to the present invention is the provision of a humidifier of the character described which is simple in construction and yet rigid and capable of a prolonged service.

The foregoing and other important objects according to the present invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the humidifier cooler according to the present invention;

,Figure2 is a rear perspective veiw of the same showing the air filter in raised position and the top cover in open position;

Figure 3 is a fractional longitudinal section of the device according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a fractional cross-section taken from behind the evaporative drum and looking towards the air fan of the device according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a side elevation partly in section of the internal mechanism of the present invention showing the manner to remove the evaporative drum;

Figure ,6 is a detailed longitudinal fractional section of the evaporative drum and the water reservoir and Figure 7 .is a section taken along line 1-1 of Figure 6;

Referring now more particularly to the draw ings in which like reference characters indicate like elements throughout the humidifier cooler according to the invention, is enclosed in an ornamental cabinetopened at the back and having a front wall I, and side walls 2 mounted on a base 3, and a cover i which is longitudinally and forwardly slidable to uncover the internal ,mechanism as shown in Figure 2. For this purpose thecover 4 is provided with turned in side edges engaging suitable outer grooves 5 extending along the top edge of the side walls 2. As shown in Figure 3 a leaf spring 6 secured to the rear end of the cover 4 prevents the latter from sliding accidentally out of engagement with the grooves .5 by abutting the raised portion 1.

As shown in Figurez, an air filter 8 which may be in the form of a rectangular frame supporting suitable fiber material between two wire screens is slidable within inner grooves '9 formed at the rear upstanding ends of the side walls 2.

A horizontally disposed partition HI, secured to the walls I and 2, separates the cabinet, according to theinvention, into a top compartment I! wherein is positionedthemechanism of the apparatus according to the invention, and a'botr'ectly secured to the latter.

tom compartment l2 used mainly as storage purposes and more particularly for receiving the evaporative drum I3 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 when the apparatus is not in use or for shipment.

When the air filter 8 is in position, its bottom edge rests upon the rear end of the partition I0, as seen in Figure 3, thereby closing completely the rear opening of the top compartment II. Stop arms I4 are pivotally secured to the rear bottom portion of the side walls 2 and are adapted to take a position projecting from the rear of the cabinet according to the invention in order to contact the adjacent wall of the room in which the apparatus is located, thereby maintaining a suitable spacing between said wall and the rear of the cabinet for proper admission of air within the apparatus. For shipment purposes these stop arms I4 are pivoted in retracted position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.

The front wall I has a substantial opening for the discharge of humidified air, said opening being provided with a frame I5 pivotally supporting a plurality of spaced air guiding vanes I6 maintained in parallel relationship by being pivotally connected at the end of their rear edge portion to a common bar I! as shown in Figure 3.

The angular position of the guiding vanes I6 may be changed by means of the thumb grip I8, in order to vary as desired the vertical direction of the air current emerging from the apparatus.

Within the top compartment I I is mounted the internal mechanism of the humidifier according to the present invention. This mechanism comprises mainly a water reservoir I9, the evaporative drum I3 substantially halfway immerged in said water reservoir I9 and rotatively mounted, an electric motor provided with suitable speed reducing gears contained in the housing 2! for driving the evaporative drum I3 at a relatively slow speed of rotation, and an air fan 22 driven by the electric motor 23 to direct and circulate an air current through the emerged portion of the evaporative drum I3.

The water reservoir I9, of a length and width only slightly smaller than the length and width of the cabinet according to the invention, simply .rests upon the horizontal partition IO and is sound insulated therefrom by the rubber pads 24 secured to the bottom of said reservoir I9. The latter abuts at its front portion against the angle iron member 25 secured to the partition II].

The reservoir I9 is further provided with a drain 26, normally plugged, and an overflow outlet 2'! for connection to a drain. The reservoir may be filled by hand in a manner which will be described hereafter or be automatically water fed by means of the pipe 28 connected to a suitable supply andterminated within the reservoir by a suitable float valve, the float of which is indicated at 29.

The top edge of the water reservoir I9 is covered along substantially its entire length with a U-shaped rubber strip 30 on which rests the rectangular angle frame 31 and of a dimension to fit the water reservoir I9. Said rectangular frame 3I supports the rest of the humidifying mechanism according to the invention.

The fan motor 23 is directly secured to a housing 32 itself spacedly mounted above the rec tangular frame 3I by means of supports 33 di- The housing 32 contains a switch and a suitable rheostat for the motor 23, said rheostat being manipulated by the A horizontal transverse bracket 35, extending just above the water surface of the reservoir I9 and in front of the fan 22, supports the drum driving motor 20, and, through the latter, one end of the drum I3. This bracket 35 is made of a metal sheet having downwardly turned longitudinal edge portion 36; its main end portions 31 are upwardly turned and welded to the inner side of the rectangular frame member 3| while the downwardly turned edge portions 33 are inwardly turned at both ends of the bracket to be welded to the inner side of the frame member 21 as shown at 38. Holes are made in the bracket 35 to receive rubber grommets 33 through which extend the bolts 43 for securing the supports 4! of the motor 23 and of the housing 2|.

Mounted on the axle 42 of the speed reducing mechanism, the driving wheel 43 engages and supports one end of the evaporative drum I3 according to the invention. The driving wheel 43 comprises a plurality of rubber discs 44 inserted between and projecting from a sleeved metal disc 45 and a plastic disc 46. Rivets 41 maintain these discs in a rigid unit.

The evaporative drum I3 according to the invention is of the type consisting of a flexible resilient elongated sheet of metal 43 spirally wound on two spaced opposite circular cup elements 49, the outer edge of which facing outwardly of the drum. The cup elements 49 are themselves centrally apertured to receive and be secured to a rabbeted sleeve respectively 53 and EI at the forward and rearward ends of the drum. A shaft 52 extends through the sleeve 53 and abuts against the closed end of the rear sleeve BI as shown in Figure 6 while its front end projects from the drum and is provided with an annular groove 53 to receive a suitably recessed plastic support element 54, which is secured to the front portion of the rectangular frame 3! as by means of rivets 55. Thus the evaporative drum I3 is supported at its front end by the plastic support element 54 and at the rear end on the driving wheel 43. The ruber discs 44 of the driving wheel 43 contacts the outwardly turned flange of the rear cup element 49. Thus a good friction is obtained between the driving wheel 43 and the driven drum I3 but, if anything prevents the rotation of said drum, the driving wheel 39 simply slips rela-, tively to the cup element 49 thereby preventing any overload on the motor I9; V

For still better friction between the driving wheel 33 and the cup element 49, the engagement of the driving wheel into the latter may be so adjusted that one of the ruber discs 44 may be adapted to contact the inner end of the straps 56 holding the spirally wound sheet of meta1 48 in place. This is shown more particularly in Figure The disc 43 is made of plastic to electrically insulate the sleeved disc 45 of the wheel 43 from the rear cup element 49 and sleeve 5| of the evaporative drum I3 in order to prevent conduction of any stray currents from the motor 20 to the drum and to the water reservoir.

With the arrangement just described, it is easy to remove the evaporative drum I3 for cleaning or repairs as seen in Figure 5. The drum is simply lifted and displaced forwardly to disengage first the plastic support member 54 and then the driving wheel 43. I

, In order to direct the air emerging from the air fan 22 through the evaporative drum I3, an air funnel 5'! is positioned between these elements. This funnel 51 converges towards the drum I3 aeenssr 5. and consists of a metal sheet 58 bent into .an inverted U. the lower free ends 59 of which are bent outwardly at right angles to be secured to the sides of the frame 3i. The metal sheet .58

forming the air funnel 5i constitutes at the same time the bottom of a double water filling funnel 66 further defined by the upstanding transverse spaced parallel walls 6i and 62, secured respectively along the forward and rearward edges of the metal sheet 5 8, and joined by the side walls 63. The water poured into the double funnel 63 passes through either one of the transverse slots Btlmade in the lower ends 59 of the metal sheet 58 on both sides of the air funnel 57. and is discharged directly into the water reservoir I9.

In order to prevent the air circulated by the fan'22 from lay-passing the air funnel 51, when the water reservoir is is partly filled, the rear wall 62 extends downwardly a substantial distance within said reservoir is s shown in Figure 3. This rear wall 59 is also provided with circular opening 65 for insertion of the air fan 22.

A water level gauge 66 is provided to indicate the level inside the reservoir i9; it comprises an upright, rod El slidably mounted within brackets 58 themselves secured to. one of the side walls 63, said rod El being provided with a float 69 at its lowerend floating in the water of the water reservoir and at its other end with an indicator is.

An electric plug outlet H is mounted on the rear wall 59 as shown in Figure 3 for connecting the motor 20 by means of electric cord 72. This plug H is connected to the rheostat housing 32 by means of the electric cord 13 as shown in Figure 5 and therefore a single cord 14 is necessary for supplying electricity to both motors 20 and 23.

For shipment of the apparatus according to the invention, the evaporative drum I3 is stored in the lower compartment l2 of the cabinet and the rectangular frame 3! resting on the water reservoir I9 is secured to the partition Ii] by means of tie rods E5 as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, the remaining elements of the humidifying mechanism are made part of the cabinet.

While a preferred embodiment according to the present invention has been illustrated and described, it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An evaporative cooler and humidifier comprising an open top rectangular water reservoir, a frame removably engaging the upper edges of the walls of said reservoir and supported by the same, a transverse bracket secured to opposite sides of said frame, electric motor driving means mounted medially of said bracket and comprising a driving wheel, a support secured to said frame opposite to said driving wheel, an evaporative rotatable drum removably mounted on said driving wheel and on said support, said drum comprising two opposite cup members forming the core of said drum, a metal sheet spirally wound on said cup members and extending outwardly from the latter, a shaft extending through the drum and one of said cups, and secured to the other of said cups, said shaft projecting outwardly of said drum from the first of said cups to rest on said support, and said driving wheel engaging and supporting the second of said cups, said drum extending partially within said reservoir and air circulating means to pass air through the portion of said drum projecting from said reservoir.

6) 2. An evaporative cooler and humidifier comprising an open top rectangular water reservoir, rubber strips lining the upper edges of the walls of said reservoir;' a frame resting on said rubber strips and engaging said edges; a transverse bracket secured to opposite sides of said frame, electric motor driving means mounted-medially on said bracket and comprising a driving wheel driven by said motor, said wheel consisting of at least one rubber disc radially projecting from and interpcsed between a sleeved disc and a second disc made of electric insulating material, said discs being secured together; a support made of electric insulating material secured to said frame opposite to said transverse bracket; an evaporative rotatable drum removably mounted on said driving wheel and on said support and comprising two opposite cup members forming the core of said drum, a metal sheet spirally wound on said cup members and extending outwardly from the latter, a shaft for said drum extending through one of said cups and secured to the other of said cups, said shaft projecting outwardly of said drum from. the first of said cups, said projecting end of said shaft provided with an annular groove to receive and rest on said support, said driving wheel frictionally engaging and supporting the second of said cups, said drum extending partially within said reservoir, and air circulating means secured to said frame to pass air through the portion of said drum projecting from said reservoir.

3. An evaporative cooler and humidifier as claimed in claim 2, wherein said air circulating means comprises an electrically driven fan and an air funnel secured to said frame and extending between said fan and said rotative drum.

4. An evaporative cooler and humidifier comprising an open top rectangular reservoir, a frame removably engaging the upper edges of the Walls of said reservoir and supported by the same, a transverse bracket secured to opposite sides of said frame, electric motor driving means mounted medially of said bracket and comprising a driving wheel, a support secured to said frame opposite to said driving wheel, an evaporative rotatable drum removably mounted on said driving wheel and on said support, to be rotated by said driving wheel, said drum extending partially within said reservoir, a fan disposed at the rear of said drum to circulate air through the portion of said drum projecting from said reservoir and an air funnel secured to said frame and extending between said fan and said rotative drum and including an inverted U-shaped sheet member with outwardly turned lower ends secured to opposite sides of said frame, parallel transverse upstanding partitions secured to the edges of said sheet member and extending outwardly from the same, and upstanding side walls joining said partitions and extending outwardly of and in spaced relationship with said sheet member, the outwardly turned ends of the latter being provided with a slot whereby said partitions, side walls and sheet member define a double funnel for manually filling said reservoir with Water.

5, An evaporative cooler and humidifier as claimed in claim 4 further including an all enclosing cabinet open at the rear and top faces, and a cover and a frame supporting air filtering means, slidably mounted on said cabinet for closing said open top and rear faces respectively.

6. An evaporative cooler and humidifier comprising an open top rectangular water reservoir, a frame removably engaging the upper edges of 7 the walls of said reservoir and supported by the same, a transverse bracket secured to opposite sides of said frame, electric motor driving means mounted medially on said bracket and comprising a driving Wheel, a support secured to said frame opposite to said driving wheel, an evaporative rotatable drum removably mounted on said driving Wheel and on said support, said drum comprising two opposite cup members forming the core of said drum, a metal sheet spirally wound on said cup members and extending outwardly from the latter, a shaft extending through the drum and one of said cups and secured to the other of said cups, said shaft projecting outwardly of said drum from the first of said cups to rest on said support, and said driving wheel engaging and supporting the second of said cups, said drum extending partially within said reservoir and air circulating means to pass air through the portion of said drum projecting from said reservoir, said air circulating means comprising an electrically driven fan and an air funnel secured to said frame, said funnel extending between said fan and said rotative drum, and including an inverted U- shaped sheet member with outwardly turned lower ends secured to the opposite sides of said frame, parallel transverse upstanding partitions Si secured to the edges of said sheet member and extending outwardly from the same, and upstanding side walls joining said partitions and extending outwardly of and in spaced relation- RAYMOND A. ROBIC.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thefile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,805,96? Toncray May 19, 1931 2,013,270 Grady Sept. 3, 1935 2,105,887 Langford Jan. 18, 1938 2,179,470 Larsen Nov. 7, 1939 

